Cure: FDA approves tablet form of blood cancer treatment

Following positive results of clinical trials, the Food and Drug Administration recently approved a tablet version of a drug called Calquence for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), small lymphocytic leukemia (SLL) and previously treated relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma (MCL).

The drug was previously approved in capsule form, but the tablet form is able to be given to patients who are also taking drugs that reduce gastric acid.

"Patients with blood cancers like chronic lymphocytic leukemia and mantle cell lymphoma are often older and may face multiple medical conditions that may need intervention, including acid reflux or peptic ulcer disease,” John Byrd, MD, University of Cincinnati Cancer Center member, Gordon and Helen Hughes Taylor Endowed Chair and professor in the Department of Internal Medicine in UC's College of Medicine and a UC Health physician, told the publication Cure. “This provides another option for some patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma, enabling more patients to potentially benefit from this treatment.”

Read the Cure article.

Featured photo of John Byrd, MD. Photo/University of Cincinnati.